Victor ‘The General’ Malinga conquers the Comrades Marathon for a decade
He was initially passionate about soccer, achieving notable milestones at junior and senior levels. But in 2014, his focus shifted toward the iconic Comrades Marathon.
Midrand sportsman Victor ‘The General’ Malinga proudly earned the prestigious Legendary Green Number on June 8 after completing 10 consecutive Comrades Marathons this year.
Throughout his 10-year journey in the Comrades, Malinga experienced many special moments, but none compare to the honour of receiving the Legendary Green Number from the esteemed Andrew ‘Mr Consistent’ Kelehe.
“I remember when I was in high school and university between 1996 and 2006, watching him [Kelehe] on TV doing wonders, achieving 10 Comrades Marathon gold medals, in 10 years in succession. It was the greatest honour to meet him and receive my green number from him,” he beamed.
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“I believe I was born unique with many talents, and I always wanted to do something major in my life in sports. Something that will be recognised in the world of sports, which will do justice to my God-given talents and inspire a lot of people in the process.”
The 41-year-old dedicated member of the Chillie Running Club began his Comrades journey in 2014 with the Eskom Athletic Club, and he secured a bronze medal in a remarkable time of 10:27:54. His personal best in the Comrades Marathon stands at an impressive 08:40:02, earning him the prestigious Bill Rowan Medal.
As a proud KZN-born athlete, Malinga was deeply immersed in the culture of the Comrades Marathon, a fundamental part of life in KZN. While he initially focused on soccer, achieving significant milestones from junior to senior levels, his dream of running the Comrades Marathon remained a constant goal.
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“My wish was always to get to a point where I get crowned as the Legend of the Game, which eventually happened on 8 June 2025 during the Comrades Marathon 2025,” he emphasised.
Reflecting on his decade-long journey, Malinga acknowledged it was fraught with challenges, both good and bad. Over the years, he faced injuries, career-related relocations, and the loss of loved ones, including his parents. Nevertheless, he persevered and emerged victorious.
“As much as these challenges were hard to swallow, I never stopped moving forward without taking a break from the Comrades Marathon, as I managed to achieve 10 Comrades Marathon medals in 10 attempts. This then qualified me for the Legendary Green Number honour in style, which proved my dedication and resilience, which was mostly as a result of the great support system around me.”
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The General extends his heartfelt gratitude, dedicating this significant achievement to all those who have supported him throughout his journey. “This includes my late parents, friends, including those on social media platforms, family members, colleagues, and all the fans out there who always rally behind all runners on the Comrades Marathon day.
“I also thank and dedicate this to my previous club, Eskom Athletic Club, and my current club, Chillie Running Club, for the support.”
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